To ask if this is what flu feels like?

[incogneto]

I've never had it but I would imagine this is what it feels like. I'm not sure if it warrants a trip to the GP. (Don't think I could even get myself there anyway)

Heads banging and my throat is so sore and feels as though it's about to close up. I feel very unsteady on my feet when I get up and it hurts to lift my head off the pillow.

I've also had the most terrible body aches since last night. It really feels like my bones are aching i feel like I've been run over by a bus or trampled on by elephants.

I don't want to waste GPs time if there's nothing they can give me but DM says I should visit

Tonsillitis does always make me feel like I've got flu, I get a high temp, everything hurts, hot and cold etc etc

I must admit I don't think it's flu. I can muster the energy to drag myself to the toilet and the kitchen now. If it was flu I know I wouldn't be able to do that.

I do think it's a nasty case of tonsillitis. Tongue is white and my tonsils are extremely red and inflamed. My feelings of going hot and cold have also subsided and the awful headache has gone (for now)

If it gets any worse I will be ringing 111 though. Thanks lovely MNers for your concerns

You never appreciate how brilliant your nose and throat are until they are poorly.

Hope you feel better soon

Thanks so much @Ontheboardwalk. Xx

Mostly clicked on this thread to see the comments along the lines of "you can't have flu if you're not dead" and was not disappointed.
Same

Definitely tonsillitis. I’ve had severe flu and bacterial tonsillitis, not hit me like a bus and rendered me incapacitated very quickly, however the sore throat distinguished the tonsillitis and thankfully I too was able to get a prescription sent over to the chemist. It did clear up very quickly once the antibiotics kicked in - I think within 24 hours I was feeling human again. Flu rendered me useless for nearly two weeks in bed and six weeks before I could go to the gym again - never known anything like it!
Get well soon, pleased you’ve got your antibiotics

Sorry - BOTH hit me like a bus

I had the flu at Christmas, I didn’t really realise it was the flu initially, woke up with a head ache, blocked nose, heavy chest. We had tickets to some Santa express thing and I dragged myself to it thinking I just had a really shit cold. About 12pm I couldn’t physically keep myself upright, luckily we were heading back to the car. I fell asleep in the car, and when. I was home, I just collapsed into bed. I couldn’t move, open my eyes. Slept for maybe 18 hours, woke up the next day and felt a bit more awake but still shit. Assumed I had a really nasty cold but it was Christmas Day so I had to hobble on cooking Christmas dinner, having visitors etc. I collapsed on Boxing Day, couldn’t breathe, I was admitted to hospital where they tested and confirmed flu. I was in bed then in hospital for 6 days on a drip of fluids and anti virals (I was/am pregnant). When I got home it was a further 14 days before I felt well again.

Actually it was strange because I always assumed with flu you would be completely bed bound, I wasn’t initially but if I had listened to my body I should have stayed in bed and rested day one. Terrible illness though, you really have my sympathy because it just is so vile

I'm always envious of the people that get tonsillitis in a mild form. Last time my mum drove me to OOH and the doctor "now why do you think it's tonsillitis?"
I opened my mouth
Doctor and mum recoiled in horror
Doctor "um yes, let's get you antibiotics"
😂😂😂😂

I had the flu a few weeks ago, it was just like you’re describing. (High temperatures, aching, shivering, sore throat.) But in my case, it developed into a chest infection which was diagnosed as pneumonia and I had to have 2 weeks of antibiotics (second week with 2 different antibiotics) to finally get rid of it.

So if you’re not better after a week then you will need to see the GP, as it could have become something worse.

In the meantime, fluids, strepsils, paracetamol and rest. I’m glad your mum has finally realised that you need help.

I hope you recover well from this.

Okay, I’ve seen your updates. Tonsillitis is a likely diagnosis, but it could also be glandular fever, which my DSis had as a teenager (it was diagnosed as tonsillitis initially.) The very sore throat sounds like what she had.

Poor you. That's the last thing you need postpartum. You're immune system is at all time low as it is. Hope you manage to get some rest

Doctor won't do anything for flu unless you are in a high risk group so over 65, asthma, diabetic etc.

I've only ever had flu once and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Literally couldn't get out of bed for 3 days. I always thought people were being a bit dramatic when they say they couldn't get out of bed with flu but trust me it's true. And I'm not soft - a few years ago I had meningitis so I know what ill feels like.

Take care of yourself, rest lots, plenty of water and good comfort food, soups are good on the sore throat. Regular paracetamol too xx

How quickly did it hit you?
The reason I ask is when I had flu a couple of years ago, when (on about day 5) I managed to get myself to the doctor, she said it was flu because of the way that it just came out of nowhere!
So I was in the supermarket with the kids, and started to feel a bit rubbish... got everyone into the car, and felt really really bad driving home. 5 minutes later by the time I got home I felt so awful I had to phone my husband to come and help me out of the car and get the shopping. I went straight to bed and didn’t get up for 3 days because I just couldn’t. The GP said that’s how she knew it was flu. It hits you like a train.
Get well soon. 🤞🏻

Yes mine came completely out of nowhere. My DH was taking DD1 (10) to camp and I was at home with DD2 (7). I was hit by a massive headache and couldn’t get up from the bed. I then discovered that my temperature had shot up to 39.5, and I’m someone who never has a high temperature!

Thankfully, DD2 was happy enough using her iPad so I could just lie on the bed. It was scary, though; it reminded me of when I had malaria 20 years ago, and that has flu like symptoms.

I agree with a previous poster that it comes out of nowhere. I was just cooking a meal and thought to myself "hmm feel a bit rough" and literally 15 minutes later I was floored. You will most likely have a fever as well as other cold symptoms with a flu - mine lasted 5 days - and you will only have the energy to go to the loo. I managed to have a shower and lay on the sofa every day for a week. My entire body felt bruised and achy. I lost a stone as I couldn't eat and had zero appetite.

You will know it's flu and wouldn't need to ask if it was. I felt like I was dying!

Is the throat on one side only? Can you swallow your saliva? If you start to drool it could be quinsy which is awful and you need to go to hospital.

@thighofrelief101 I couldn't earlier before I had the paracetamol because it was just too sore. I was actually on the phone to the doctor and dribbled all over my front and he asked me the same question.

I'm still not swallowing as much for fear of the pain that follows

@incogneto

I had quinsy a few years back. I woke up one morning unable to lift my head off the pillow, red hot and mostly out of it.

Thought I had flu so just stayed in bed. When my DP came home he was shocked at how I was shivering with heating full whack in the middle of summer, and dripping wet with sweat. I couldn't speak properly (hot potato voice) he rang 111 and was told tonsillitis, but he questioned it because of how poorly I was.

He got an emergency GP appointment before the GP left for the day. As soon as GP looked in my throat he called an ambulance to take me to A and E. My throat was 80% occluded. He said it was life threatening. I was in hospital for a week.

Is your throat swollen on one side only? Can you see the dangly bit in the back of your throat?

and do you have earache?

Sounds more like tonsillitis if your throat is that bad. It can make you feel very poorly.

Flu is worse. I couldn’t post here in the midst of it. A week in bed and eventually to the GP for antiemetics, but there’s nothing else they can give. Antibiotics for tonsillitis is like magic.

piffar I had quinsy, it was awful, straight into hospital and IV fluids and antibiotics. The steroids made me puke which unfortunately made me piss myself and I had no spare clothes. That coupled with the drool was delightful.

If it's within 48 hours you can get Tamiflu if it's the flu. Worked wonders for my son when he had the flu.

Hope you can get seen if you’re no better. Sounds awful whatever you have. My experience if flu was being delirious in bed for 3 days. Unable to eat or drink much and each toilet trip was a mammoth effort. Horrible.